Ski binder



April 11, 1939.

F. MEIS 2,153,809

SKI BINDER Filed April 19, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Fam nFMea's Attorneys R. F. MEIS SKI BINDER April 11, 1939.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Apr l 19, 1958 O b 4 t Inventor Fem/am, Z Mez's Attorneys /Ar N n Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNITE STATES SKI BINDER Roman F. Meis, Battle Lake, Minn., assignor of one-half to Frederick Meis, Battle Lake, Minn.

Application April 19, 1938, Serial No. 202,959

4 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in skis and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a hitch or binder embodying a 5 novel construction and arrangement whereby a ski may be expeditiously but firmly secured to the foot of a wearer and removed therefrom.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a ski hitch and foot board of such construction that the accumulation of snow and ice under the foot of the wearer, which fre-- quently occurs at present, will be prevented.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide a ski binder which may be successfully used on different kinds of foot wear and which will not damage said foot wear in any way.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide a ski binder of the aforementioned character which will not injure the foot or ankle of the wearer should the ski be accidentally twisted or in the event of a fall.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a ski binder of the character set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, reliable, comfortable and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an embodiment of the invention, showing the device in use.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the invention.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the front portion of the foot board, taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2, a portion only of the front strap being shown.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a view principally in cross section, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the reference numeral I designates a portion of a conventional ski. The embodiment of the present invention which has been illustrated comprises a foot board 2 of suitable material which is firmly secured in position on the ski I through the medium of screws 3. Secured on top of the foot board 2 is a pad 4 which is preferably of rubber.

The bottom and sides of the toe portion of the foot board 2 are recessed, as at 5. Beginning with the forward end of the recess 5, the foot board 2 is widened, as at 6, from which point said foot board extends forwardly and terminates in a substantially rounded or blunt point at its forward end. The foot board 2 further includes a raised rear end portion 1, the purpose of which will be presently set forth. The rear end portion of the foot board 2 is streamlined, as at 8.

Mounted transversely beneath the foot board 2 in the recess 5 is a comparatively wide toe strap 9 the end portions of which overlap. One end portion of the strap 9 is slidably engaged in guides II! which are provided therefor on the other end portion of said strap. Mounted on the outside of the strap 9 and adapted to encircle same is a comparatively narrow securing strap II which is adjustable through the medium of a suitable buckle I2.

Secured as at I3 to the forward end portion of the foot board 2 and extending rearwardly thereover is an adjustable front strap Id. The front strap I4 terminates in a loop I5 at its rear end through which the straps 9 and I I pass. The strap I 4 includes a conventional buckle I6 for adjustment. Connected to the loop I5 is a ring I'!. The reference numeral I8 designates a back strap the ends of which are detachably connected to the ring I! through the medium of conventional snap hooks I9. The back strap I8 comprises an adjusting buckle 20.

It is thought that the use of the invention will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing, particularly to those skilled in the art to which said invention pertains. After the proper adjustments have been made, the ski may be expeditiously secured to the foot of the wearer and removed therefrom by simply connecting or disconnecting one end of the back strap I8 to or from the ring II. Of course, the toe portion of the foot is slipped into the strap 9. The adjustable strap II provides means for tightening or loosening the comparatively wide toe strap 9. The upwardly curved rear end portion II of the foot board 2 materially assists in maintaining the foot of the wearer in its proper position on said footboard. The projecting side portions 6 of the foot board 2 function as shields that prevent the strap 9 from scooping snow in under the foot of the wearer where it packs and turns to ice. The ends of the back strap I8, it will be noted, are connected substantially at the top of the toe straps instead of at the sides thereof, as at present, which construction and arrangement permits much greater freedom of movement of the foot while at the same time holding the foot securely.

It is believed that the many advantages of a ski hitch or binder constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:-

1. A ski binder comprising a foot board having a transverse recess in the bottom and sides of a front portion thereof, and toe straps secured to the foot board in the recess, said foot board comprising a comparatively wide portion immediately adjacent the forward end of the recess.

2. A ski binder comprising a foot board having a transverse recess in the bottom and sides of a front portion thereof, and toe straps secured to the foot board in the recess, said foot board comprising a comparatively wide portion immediately adjacent the forward end of the recess, said foot board further including an upwardly curved rear end portion.

3. A ski binder comprising a foot board adapted to be secured on a ski, a front strap secured to the forward end portion of the foot board and extending rearwardly thereover, toe straps mounted transversely on a front portion of the foot board, a loop on the rear end of the front strap encircling the toe straps, a back strap, and means for detachably connecting the ends of said back strap to the loop.

4. A ski binder comprising a foot board, said foot board having a transverse recess in the bottom and sides of a forward portion thereof, toe straps secured to the foot board in the recess, a front strap secured to the forward end portion of the foot board and extending rearwardly thereover, a loop on the rear end of said front strap, the toe straps passing through said loop, a ring mounted on the loop, a back strap, and means on the ends of said back strap for detachable connection with the ring.

ROMAN F. MEIS. 

